Ogun State Government on Wednesday launched its e-bikes and tricycles under the Ogun State E-Mobility Programme.
The programme, which aims to reduce the cost of transportation in the state, will also ensure a cleaner environment by reducing carbon emissions.
Speaking at the launch of the first phase of 2,000 electric motorcycles held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the E-Mobility initiative marks another milestone toward a sustainable and green future for the state.
He said: “Our administration is committed to mitigating the impact of the subsidy removal and the high cost of diesel fuel while reducing transportation costs for our citizens.
“We will be realizing about 2,000 e-bikes in the first phase. These commercial motorbikes can ride up to 75-80 kilometres on a full charge, and the vehicles can travel up to 200 kilometres, thus reducing transportation costs by 40 per cent.
“We aim to reduce our carbon footprint and bring about a significant change in how we think about transportation in our daily lives. This aligns with our energy transformation program for a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations”, the governor added.
Recalling that the state has led the country in energy transition, being the first state to launch and deploy Condensed Natural Gas (CNG) buses about a year ago, Abiodun explained that the buses were deployed on the Ita-Oshin-Adatan route in Abeokuta as well as the Mowe-Ibafo to Lagos routes, serving residents in that corridor and drastically reducing transportation fares.
According to the governor, through the launching of electric bikes, tricycles, vehicles, and battery swap stations at specific points, the government is not just introducing a new mode of transportation but also pioneering a movement towards a cleaner, more efficient, and technologically advanced way of life.
The governor also announced the groundbreaking of a new facility, named Giga Facility, at the Special Agro Processing Zone located in Iperu-Remo, noting that the facility, with a total investment of $40 million, would serve as an assembly plant for electric bikes, two-wheelers, tricycles, commercial buses, electric cars, and swap stations.
Abiodun maintained that the investment would be implemented in three phases, beginning with phase one, focusing on our e-Okada bike assembly, and phase two with tricycles while the third phase will be implemented with the state’s e-vehicles.
He projected that the investment would create over 10,000 direct jobs and 50,000 indirect jobs for assembly line operators.
While expressing the commitment of his administration to continue encouraging Public-Private Partnerships for the economic prosperity of the Ogun State people, Abiodun called on investors to take advantage of the peaceful and conducive business environment to invest in all sectors of the state’s economy.
The governor also appealed to the people, particularly the youth, to engage the government constructively instead of embarking on unnecessary protests, which often do not yield positive results.
He clarified: “Factories are springing up in our state, and you know no investor would invest in an unsecured environment. Please don’t allow yourselves to be used by faceless politicians who lost elections. The federal government is doing all it can to address the situation, and on our part, we are committed to fulfilling our electoral promises.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Sa’idu Alkali, commended the state for being the first to launch the E-Mobility initiative, adding that with the innovation Ogun has joined other African countries that are currently using more than 15,000 e-bikes in their transportation sectors.
He said the programme would revolutionize the transportation sector not only in the state but in the country as a whole, as it would provide an alternative to fuel at reduced costs.
The minister appealed to other state governments to emulate Ogun State in partnering with the Federal Government in CNG adoption and encouraged the public to support the programme to create jobs and make transportation cheaper, more efficient, and environment-friendly.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, lauded the state for always being the first in any innovation that would benefit the people.
Kyari, who was represented by the company’s Executive Vice President, Mr. Lekan Ogunleye, said the E-Mobility Programme had the potential of reducing transportation costs for both passengers and operators, as well as saving the environment from pollution.
He assured that NNPCL would have three charging points in its stations across the country while supporting the state government by making swap stations available in its stations in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Olugbenga Dairo, said the launch of the programme was a follow up to the conversion of the CNG buses last year which is aimed at addressing the increase in transportation fare occasioned by the subsidy removal.
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, commended the governor for initiating the programme and expressed the hope that it would bring down transportation costs and improve the standard of living of the people.
